2-lower alkyl-androstane-3, 17beta-diols and esters thereof



United States Patent 3,236,867 Z-LOWER ALKYL-ANDROSTANE-3,17fi-DIOLS AND ESTERS THEREOF Howard J. Ringold, Shrewsbury, Mass., and George Rosenkranz, Mexico City, Mexico, assignors to Syntex S.A., Mexico City, Mexico, a corporation of Mexico No Drawing. Filed Dec. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 73,991 Claims priority, application Mexico, Feb. 7, 1956, 43,865; Dec. 17, 1956, 46,584 7 Claims. (Cl. 260-3974) This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 636,860, filed January 29, 1957; Serial No. 702,763 filed December 16, 1957, and Serial No. 819,543 filed June 11, 1959, all now abandoned.

The present invention relates to novel cyclopentanophenanthrene compounds and to process of the preparation thereof.

More particularly the present invention relates to novel 2-lower alkyl and 2-aralkylaandrostane-3,17,6-dio1s and esters thereof which may also contain a lower alkyl group at C-17a and unsaturation at C-4.

The novel compounds of the present invention which are hormones of the androgenic type exhibiting anabolic, anti-estrogenic and anti-gonadotrophic activity are represented by the following formulas:

I .ZZQO

In the above formulas Z indicates a double bond or a saturated linkage between C-4 and C-5, R represents hydrogen or methyl; R represents hydrogen or lower alkyl, R represents a lower alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl or propyl or a lower monocyclic ar-alkyl group such as benzyl; R and R represent hydrogen or an acyl group of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than 12 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, of straight, branched, cyclic or mixed cyclic-aliphatic chain, substituted or not with methoxy, halogen or other groups. Typical ester groups are the acetate, propionate, butyrate, hemisuccinate, enanthate, caproate, benzoate, trimethylacetate, phenoxyacetate, cyclopentylpropionate, phenylpropionate and fl-chloropropionate.

The preparation of the novel 2a-alkyl and 2a-aralkyl derivatives of the present invention can be illustrated by the following equation:

(I)H r rr of on i I o:

on pa 2 H H i HO I HO :@3/

the water layer in the form of its sodium salt.

3,236,867 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 u o 0: 3; I 0:2;

(III) (VIII) In the above formulas R through R have the same meaning as previously set forth.

In practicing the process set forth above, the starting compound which may be testosterone, 17a-lower alkyl testosterone such as 17a-methyl or 17a-ethy1 (VI) or the corresponding 4-5 saturated derivative of the allo series i.e. androstan-l-ol-3-one or l7a-methylor l7a-ethylandrostan-17/3-ol-3-one (I) is suspended in an inert organic solvent such as anhydrous benzene and is then mixed with ethyl formate and sodium hydride. The react-ion mixture is then kept for a long period of time (of the order of one day) at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. The excess of hydride is then decomposed by cautious addition of methanol. Cold water is then added to form two layers with the desired product in The aqueous layer is separated, washed and acidified with dilute mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid and extracted with an organic solvent such as methylene chloride. From the organic solvent solution the desired 2- hydroxymethylene intermediate (VII or II) is obtained as by evaporation to dryness and recrystallization. The 2- hydroxyrnethylene compounds are treated in an organic solvent suspension wit-h sodium hydride and with an alkyl or aralkyl iodide (preferably .a lower alkyl or benzyl iodide) preferably under reflux conditions and under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction is continued for a long period of time, of the order of 72 hours, with successive increments of the iodide being added at intervals of 24 hours. The mixture is cooled, washed with dilute base to remove unreacted starting material; the product, name ly the 2-alkyl or aralkyl-2-formyl derivative (VIII or III), is recovered from the organic layer by evaporation and recrystallization.

The 2-alkyl or aralkyl-2'-formyl derivatives thus prepared are then treated with mild base, preferably activated alumina (chromatographic type) of alkaline reaction. This treatment involves passing a benzene solution of the compounds through a column of the alumina and after about a days time, eluting the product from the column with an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate. The products after crystallization are the corresponding Zea-alkyl or aralkyl compounds, i.e. Zea-lower alkyl (such as methyl, ethyl or propyl) or benzyl derivatives of testosterone, 17u-lower alkyl testosterone (1X) or of the saturated compounds such as andros-tan-17B-ol-3- one or of 1702-10W6I' alkyl-audrostan-17,8-ol-3-one (IV). According to the above equation, the Zea-alkyl or aralkyl derivatives of testosterone or of the 17oc-1OWCI alkyltestosterones (IX) are hydrogenated in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, preferably a palladium catalyst and more specifically palladium on barium sulfate catalyst. After separation of the catalyst, the two isomers (i.e. the testane and androstane derivatives) formed and were separate-d by chromatography with the androstane derivatives (IV) predominating.

' .Alternatively the double bond of the 2OC-E11ky1 or aralkyl derivatives of testosterone or of the 17oc-1OW6I alkyl testosterones (IX) is saturated by treatment with lithium in liquid ammonia.

For formation of the novel3-alcohol-s, the Zea-alkyl or aralkyl derivatives of dihydrotestosterone, testosterone or of the 17a-loweralky-1 derivatives thereof (IV or IX) is dissolved in a lower aliphatic alcohol such as methanol and mixed with sodium borohydride. After standing overnight at room temperature, the solvent is removed and the reduction product purified, to give a mixture of the 300 and 3,8-hydroxy compounds.

In a similar manner the process outlined above is applied to l9-nor-testosterone or its 17u-lower alkyl derivative. Thus the 19-nor compound is suspended in an inert solvent such as benzene and mixed with ethyl formate and sodium hydride and is maintained under a nitrogen atmosphere for a period of time of about hours. The salt mixture produced was then treated with acid such as dilute hydrochloric acid and the precipitate thus produced was the corresponding 2-hydroxymethylene-19-nortestosterone or 17a-lower alkyl derivative thereof. By then following the procedure as set forth above, the 20:- alkyl or aralkyl-2'-formyl derivatives of 19-n0r-testosterone and 19-110I-17u-lOWe1' alkyl-testosterone and the 20:-

alkyl or aralkyl derivatives of 19-nor-testosterone and 19-nor-17a-lower alkyl testosterone are prepared. To form the corresponding saturated derivatives of Zoe-alkyl and aralkyl-19-nor-testosterone or 19-nor-17a-lower alkyltestosterone, the A -3-keto compounds are treated with lithium in liquid ammonia to hydrogenate the double bond. Upon treatment of the saturated or unsaturated derivatives with sodium borohydride, the 3-keto group is converted into a S-hydroxy group as described herein above.

The preparation of the novel ZB-alkyl or .aralkyl derivatives of the present invention can be illustrated by the following equation:

R40 -W R40 MN 0 R3 0 R3 ta ta OH 0 R3 In the above formulas R, R R and R have the same meaning as previously set forth.

In practicing the process outlined above, Zea-alkyl or 2waralkyl-dihydrotesterone (XI) or the 17oc-1OW61 alkyl derivatives thereof (XVI) is monobrominated at 0-2 by reaction with one molar equivalent of bromine in acetic acid solution to produce the corresponding C2 monobromo compounds (XII and XVII). Upon dehydrobromination as by refluxing with collidine or by reaction with calcium carbonate in mixture with dimethylformamide there is produced the 2-lower alkyl or 2-aralkyl-A androsten-l7 8-ol-3-one (XI'II) or the 17a-1ower alkyl derivative thereof (XVIII). By starting with an ester of 2oc-lOW61' alkyl-dihydrotestosterone (disclosed in our conpending application Serial No. 632,016, filed January 2, 1957, now abandoned), there is obtained the monobromo compound as well as 2-lower alkyl-N-androsten-17,8-01- 3-one in the form of the corresponding ester. By hydrolysis of the ester group of a 17-acylate of 2-lower alkyl- A -androstcn-17/3-ol-3-one as by reaction with methanolic potassium hydroxide, there is produced the aforementioned 2-a1kyl-A -androsten-17,8-ol-3-one (XIII) in the free form. Upon oxidation of the latter compound (XIII) with chromic acid, there is formed Z-alkyl-N androsten- 3,17-dione (XIV). The nuclear double bond is saturated by catalytic hydrogenation, for example in the presence of palladium on carbon catalyst in mixture with ethyl acetate. The treatment of the resulting Zfi-alkyl-androstart-3,17-dione with lithium aluminum hydride leads to the formation of 2 3-alkyl-androstan-3B,17,8-dio1 as the main product (XV).

The same compound is also obtained by hydrogenation of 2-alkyl-A -androsten-17fl-ol-3-one or an ester of the same to ZB-alkyl-dihydrotestosterone or its ester respectively, followed by treatment of these saturated compounds with lithium aluminum hydride.

Upon hydrogenation of 2,17a-dialkyl-A -androsten- 17B-ol-3-one or the esters thereof (XVIII) there is produced the respective 2,6,17u-dialkyl-dihydrotestosterone or their esters (XIX). By treatment of the latter compounds with lithium aluminum hydride there is produced as the main product the respective 25,17a-dialkyl-androstan-3,8,17{i-diol or the 17-esters thereof (XX).

By conventional methods of esterification with hydrocarbon carboxylic acid anhydrides or chlorides of less than 12 carbon atoms there is formed monoesters of those compounds having a single secondary hydroxyl group at 0-3 or C-17 and diesters of those compounds having a secondary hydroxyl group at both 08 and C-17. Esterification of the tertiary hydroxyl group at C-17 is effected by reaction with the hydrocarbon carboxylic acid anhydrides in mixture with an organic solvent inert to the reaction, such as benzene, and in the presence of an acid catalyst such as p-toluenesulfonic acid. Esterification of the 3-keto compounds can be effected prior to the formation of the 3-alcohols and thus diesters having the same or different ester groups can be prepared.

The novel intermediate compounds 2-alkyl-A -androsten-17fl-ol-3-one and 25-alkyl-dihydrotestosterone, their 17-alkyl and ester derivatives (XIII, XIV, XVIII and XIX) are important and androgenic type hormones having anabolic, 'anti-gonadotrophic and .anti-estrogenic activity in addition to their use as intermediates for the preparation of the novel compounds of the present invention:

The following examples serve to illustrate but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention:

Example I benzene was treated with cc. of methyl iodide and the mixture was refluxed under an atmosphere of nitrogen. 10 additional cc. of methyl iodide was added after 24 hours, followed by 10 cc. more after 48 hours, and the refluxing was continued to a total of 72 hours. The cooled mixture was washed with 1% sodium hydroxide solution to remove traces of unchanged starting material and the organic layer was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane afforded 2-methyl-2'-formyl-l7a-methyl- A -androsten-17,8-01-3-0ne.

A solution of 1 g. of the above compound in benzene was used to impregnate a column of 100 g. of alkaline activated alumina. After 24 hours the column was eluted with ethyl acetate and the eluates were crystallized from acetone-hexane to produce 2a,l7adimethyl-testosterone; melting point 150-152 C., [M +82 (CHCl A solution of 1 g. of 2a,17u-dimethyl-testosterone in cc. of methanol was mixed with 100 mg. of sodium borohydride previously dissolved in 2 cc. of water and the mixture was kept standing overnight at room temperature. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, water and a few drops of acetic acid were added to the residue and the reduction product was collected, thus giving a mixture of 2a,17a-dimethyl-A -androstene- 3a,17/3-diol and 2a,17a-din1ethyl-A -androstene-3f3,17B- diol. After conventional separation the last mentioned compound had a melting point of 135-144 C.

Example 11 A mixture of 1 g. of 2a,l7a-dimethyl-testosterone, 100

cc. of methanol (ethyl acetate can be used alternatively) and mg. of 5% palladium on barium sulfate catalyst was hydrogenated under an atmosphere of hydrogen at atmospheric pressure and 25 C. until the equivalent of one mol of hydrogen had been absorbed. The catalyst was filtered, the filtrate was evaporated to dryness and the residue was chromatographed in a column with activated alumina. Upon elution with mixtures of benzene and ether, there came out first the fractions of 2a,17a dimethyl-testan-17B-ol-3-one and then the fractions of 2a,17a-dimethyl-androstan-17,8-ol-3-one, melting point 151-154" C. [ul +8 (CHCl 1 g. of 2a,17a-dimethyl-androstan-17,8-01-3-one was treated with sodium borohydride in the same manner as described in Example I to thus afford a mixture of 2oz,

17u-dimethyl-androstane 3a,17,8 diol and 2a,l7a-dimethyl-androstane-35,17fi-diol which was separated by conventional methods. The 2a,17u-dimethyl-androstane- 35,17r3-dio1 showed anti-estrogenic activity at 50 g. dose level when assayed in the standard anti-estrogenic assay.

Example III Following the method described in Example I, except that ethyl iodide was used instead of methyl iodide, there were obtained 2a-ethyl-17u-methyl-testosterone and finally 20: ethyl 17a-methyl-A -androstene-3a,17B-diol and 20aethyl-l7a-rnethyl-A -androstene-3 8,17fl-diol.

Example IV By following the procedure described in Example II, 2aethyl l7a-dimethyl-testosterone was converted into 20:- ethyl 17oz methyl-testan-17,8-01-3-one and 2a-ethyl-17amethyl-androstan-17,B-ol-3-one.

In accordance with the method of Example I, Zea-ethyl- 17a methyl androstan-17B-ol-3-one was treated with sodium borohydride to aflord 2oc-ethyl-17u-methyl-androstan 3a,17,B-diol and Zoe-ethyl-l7a-methy1-androstan-3B, 17fi-diol.

Example V Following the methods described in Examples I and II except that propyl iodide was used instead of methyl iodide, there were obtained 2a-propyl-17a-rnethyl-A -androsten-3B,17fl-diol, 2a-propyl-17a-methyl-A -androstene- 304,176 diol, 2a propyl-17a-methyl-androstane-3fi,17,8- diol and Zea-propyl-17a-methyl-androstane-3a,17,6-diol.

Example VI A mixture of 2.2 g. of Z-hydroxymethylene-l7u-methyl testosterone, mg. of sodium hydride and 50 cc. of benzene was treated with 10 cc. of benzyl iodide and refluxed for 72 hours under an atmosphere of nitrogen. After cooling the mixture was washed with previously cooled 1% sodium hydroxide solution and then evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. Crystallization from acetone-hexane gave 2 benzyl-2'-aldehydo-17a-methyltestosterone.

Further treatment of the compound in accordance with the methods described in Examples I and II produced 20:- benzyl 17a methyl-testosterone, 2a-benZyl-17amethyldihydrotestosterone, 2cx-benzyl-17a-methyl-A -androstene 304,17/8 diol. 20c benzyl-17a-methyl-A -androstene-3,8, 17,8-diol, 2a benzyl-17a-methyl-androstane-3a,17/3-diol, and 20 benzyl-17a-methyl-androstane-3B,17,B-diol.

Example VII Following the method of Examples I and II but starting from 2 hydroxymethylene-lMethyl-testosterone instead of the Not-methyl homologue, there was obtained 20c methyl-17oc-ethyl-A -androstene-3u,l7fi-diol, Za-methyl 17a-ethyl-A -androstene-3,B,17B-diol, 2a-methyl-17aethyl androstane-3a,17,8-diol and 2a-rnethyl-17a-ethylandrostan-3 B, 17,8-diol.

In accordance with the method of the preceding Example except that 2 hydroxymethylene-17a-propyl testosterone was employed as the starting material instead of the l7a-ethyl homologue, there was obtained the corresponding 3a,17,8 and 35,17,6-dils having a propyl group at C-l7a instead of an ethyl group.

In a similar way there was prepared the following derivatives of A -androstene3,17B-diol and of androstane- 3,17}8-diol: ZOL-EthY1-17 L-PTOPY1, 2a,l7a-diethyl, Za-propyl- 17oz ethyl, 2ml7a-dipropyl, 2a-benzyl-17a-ethy1 and 20abenZyl-l7u-propyl.

Of all the compounds described in the present example and in the previous Examples I through VII there were prepared their 3-monoacetates by reaction with acetic anhydride in pyridine solution at the temperature of the steam bath as well as other esters such as the propionates, benzoates and cyclopentylpropionates.

Example IX A solution of 5 g. of 2a-methy1-dihydrotestosterone in 250 cc. of methanol was mixed with a solution of 3 g. of sodium borohydride in 40 cc. of water and refluxed for 1 hour and cooled. The excess of hydride was decomposed by slowly adding acetic acid, the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and then diluted with water. The precipitate was collected, washed with water and air dried. The product consisted of a mixture of the 311 and 3B-is-omers of 2a-methyl-androstane-3,17/3- diol, which were separated by chromatography on neutral alumina. In the androgen-anabolic assay, Zu-methyl-androstane-3a,l7fi-diol exhibited about half the activity of testosterone and about 0.2 androgenic activity of testosterone when the compound was given by injection. Thus the androgen-anabolic ratio of Za-methyI-andrOstane-Ba, 17fi-diol is 2.5 (the androgenanabolic ratio of testosterone is 1). In the anti-estrogenic assay by injection, Zea-methylandrostane-3a,17fi-diol was active at 100 g. total dose and Zoe-methyl androstane-3B,l7,B-diol was active at 300 g. total dose level. Androstane-3 9,17fi-diol was found to be inactive at a total dose level of 8000 g.

Example X In another experiment 2oc-methyl-dihydrotestosterone was treated with sodium borohydride in mixture with aqueous methanol at room temperature for 4 hours and the product was isolated as described in the previous example; the final result was the same.

Example XI Example XII A mixture of 2 g. of 2a-methyl-androstan-3fi,17,8-diol, 20 cc. of pyridine and 1 cc. of acetic anyhdride was kept overnight at room temperature, then heated on the steam bath for half an hour and diluted with water; the precipitate was collected by filtration and purified by chromatography on neutral alumina, thus yielding Za-methyI-androstan-3 3,17fi-diol 3,17-diacetate.

Example XIII By following the procedure of the previous example, there was acetylated 17fl-propionoxy-2a-methyl-androstan-BB-ol to Zu-methyl-andrOstan-BB,17B-diol-3-acetate- 17-propionate.

8 Example XIV By following the method of Example XII and by reaction with the anhydr-ide of any carboxylic acid of up to 12 carbon atoms, the respective 3,17/3-andnostane-diols or their 17-esters were converted into the corresponding diesters of the 30c and Ills-isomers of Qa-methyl-andmstan- 3,17,8-diol, with the same or difierent radicals.

Example XV A solution of 2 g. of Za-methyl-dihyd-mtestosterone 17-acetate in 120 cc. of glacial acetic acid was mixed with a few drops of a 4 N solution of hydrogen bromide in acetic acid and then treated dropwise, under continuous stirring, with a solution ocf 1.05 molar equivalents of bromine in acetic acid. When the mixture had decolorized completely it was diluted with water and the precipitate was collected, washed with water and air dried. There was thus obtained the crude 2 methyl-2-bromodihydrotestosterone 17-acetate, which was used for the next step without further purification. In another experiment, 2-methyl-2-bromo-dihydrotestosterone 17-acetate was purified by recrystallization trom chloroformmethanol.

The above crude Zmethyl-Z bromo-dihydr-otestosterone acetate was mixed with 14 cc. of 'y-collidine and refluxed for 45 minutes; the cooled mixture was diluted with ether, the precipitate of collidine hydrobromide was filtered and washed with ether and the filtrate and Washings were combined. The solution was then consecutively washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, water, aqueous sodium'bicarbonate solution and water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane furnished 2-methyl-A -androsten-17,8-ol-3-0ne 17-acetate.

A mixture of 1.5 g. of the above compound and 150 cc. of methanol containing 1 g. of potassium hydroxide was kept for 2 hours at a temperature around 35 C., then acidified with acetic acid, concentrated to a small volume and diluted with water; the precipitate was collected, dried and recrystallized from acetone-hexane. There was thus obtained the free 2-methyl-A -androsten- 17,8-ol-3-one.

A solution of 1.2 g. of the above compound in 25 ml. glacial acetic acid was treated little by little with 1.1 molar equivalents of chromium trioxide, in 4 ml. of acetic acid, maintaining the temperature below 20 C. The mixture was then kept cfior 2 hours at room temperature and diluted with water; the precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with water, dried and recrystallized dirom acetone-hexane; there was obtained Z-methyl-N- andr-osten-3,l7-dione.

1 g. of the above compound was hydrogenated in mixture with a suspension of '200 mg. of prereduced 5% palladium on carbon catalyst in cc. of ethyl acetate; when the equivalent of 1 mol of hydrogen had been absorbed the catalyst was removed by filtration and the ethyl acetate solution was evaporated to dryness. The residue crystallized from acetone-hexane to furnish 2 3- methyl-androstane-3,17-dione.

A solution of 1 g. of Z S-methyI-and-rostane-3,17-dione in 50 cc. of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran was slowly added .to a stirred suspension of 500 mg. of lithium aluminum hydride in 50 cc. of dry ether, with cooling. The mixture was then refluxed for 1 hour, cooled, the excess of hydride was decomposed by the addition of a few drops of ethyl acetate and saturated sodium sulfate solution was added, followed by anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solids were removed :by filtration and the solution was evaporated to dryness. There was thus obtained a mixture of the 30: and Zip-isomers of ZB-rnethyl-androstan- 3,176 diol, where the fi-isomer predominated and which was isolated by chromatography.

Example XVI Instead of the ester, the free 2a-methyl-dihydrotestosterone was subjected to the treatment described in the previous example; there was thus obtained 2-methyl-2- bromo-dihydrotestosterone and then 2-me-thyl-A -androsten-l7/3-ol-3-one and finally 2fi-methyl-androstane-3l3- 17fl-diol identical with the one obtained in accordance with such example.

Example XVII 2-methyl-A -androsten-17fl-ol-3-one 17-acetate was hydrogenated to ZB-methyl-dihydrotestosterone acetate, and in another experiment the free 2-methyl-A -androstenl7fl-ol-3-one was converted into 2fl-methyl-dihydrotest0sterone; upon subsequent reaction with lithium aluminum hydride, both compounds were converted into ZB-methylandrostane-3fi,17[3-diol, since the reduction is accompanied by hydrolysis of the ester group present. The procedure described in Example IX was followed for these operations.

Example XVIII By following the method of Example XV, 2a,l7a-dimethyl-dihydrotestosterone was monobrominated to 20, l7a-dimethyl-2-bromo-dihydrotestosterone and the latter was dehydrobrominated to 2,l7c-dimethyl-A -androsten- 17,8-01-3-one, which was then hydrogenated to produce 2,8,17a-dimethYl dihydrotestosterone; upon subsequent treatment with lithium aluminum hydride there was obtained 25,l7a-dimethyl-androstane-3,8,17,8-diol.

Example XIX A mixture of 5 g. of 2,l7a-dimethy1-A -androsten-17(3- ol-3-one described in the previous example, 500 cc. of anhydrous benzene, 10 cc. of acetic anhydride and 1 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid was stirred for 24 hours at a temperature between 20 and 25 C. The mixture was diluted with water, the benzene layer was separated and washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the benzene was evaporated. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane yielded 2,7a-dimethyl-A -androsten-17fi-ol-3-one l7-a-c-etate. The latter was hydrogenated to 2,8,17fl-dimethyl-dihydrotestosterone 17-acetate in accordance with the procedure described in Example XV. Upon subsequent treatment with lithium aluminum hydride, as described in such example, there was obtained, with simultaneous hydrolysis of the acetoxy group, 2B,17a-dimethyl-androstan-3 8,l7/3-dio1 as the main product, which was identical to the final compound of the previous example.

In other experiments, the esterification of 2,17oc-dimethyl-N-androstem17fi-ol-3-one was conducted with other hydrocarbon carboxylic acid anhydrides of up to 12 carbons, different from acetic anhydride, to produce the corresponding 17-esters including the benzoate and cyclopentylpropionate, and then the corresponding 17- esters of 2B,17a-dimethyl-dehydrotestosterone; in the subsequent treatment with lithium aluminum hydride, there were simultaneously hydrolyzed the ester groups, with formation of 2/3,17a-dimethyl-andrQstan-BB,17,8- diol, identical with the one mentioned above.

Example XX In the step of dehydrobromination of Examples XV, XVI, and XVIII, the reaction with collidine was substituted for a reaction with calcium carbonate in mixture with dimethylformamide, with the same results.

For example, a solution of 2 g. of Z-methyl-Z-bromodihydrotestosterone 17-acetate in 50 cc. of dimethylformamide was mixed with 5 g. of calcium carbonate and the mixture was stirred for 1 hour at 90 C.; the solution was filtered while hot, washing the filter with a little hot dimethylformamide, and the combined filtrate and washings was cooled, diluted with water and the precipitate of the crude 2-methyl-A -androsten-17B-ol-3-one 17-acetate was collected by filtration. By recrystallization from acetone-hexane there was obtained the pure 10 compound having identical properties to those of the compound obtained in accordance with Example XV which was then converted into 2,8-methyl-androstane-3B,- 17,8-diol as described in such example.

Example XXI By essentially following the procedure described by A. Behal, A. Ch., 20, 417 (1900), there was prepared the mixed anhydride of formic and acetic acids, by reaction of acetic anhydride with anhydrous formic acid.

A mixture of 1 g. of 2a,17adimethyl-androstan-173-01- 3-one, 2 g. of such anhydride and 20 cc. of pyridine was heated at C. for 48 hours, cooled, poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate; the extract was washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, then with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and finally with water to neutral, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated; recrystallization of the residue from aqueous methanol afforded the l7-formate of 211,170;- dimethyl-androstan-l7 8-ol-3-one, namely the 17-formate of 2a,17a-dimethyl-dihydrotestosterone.

By starting with 2a,1'7a-dimethyl-testosterone instead of 2a,l7a-dimethylandrostan-17B-ol-3-one, there was produced the formate of 2a,17a-dimethyl-testosterone.

Example XXII Following the method described in Example XXI, but starting from 2a-methyl-l7a-ethyl dihydrotestosterone, there was obtained the 17-formate of 2a-methyl-l7aethyl-dihydrotestosterone.

Example XXIII Following the method described in Example XXI, except that the mixed anhydride of formic and acetic acids was replaced by acetic anhydride, there was obtained the l7-acetate of 72a,l7a-dimethyl-dihydrotestosterone and the 17-acetate of 2a,17a-dimethyl-testosterone.

Example XXIV A solution of l g. of 2a,l7a-dimethyl-dihydrotestosterone in 20 cc. of pyridine was treated with 4 g. of cyclopentylpropionic anhydride and heated at 90 C. for 4 days, cooled, poured into ice water and extracted with methylene chloride; the extract was successively washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated; chromatography of the residue on neutral alumina furnished the 17- cyclopentylpropionate of 2a,17a-dimethyldihydrotestosterone.

Example XXV Following the method of Example XXIII, except that cyclopentylpropionic anhydride is replaced by caproic anhydride there was obtained the 17-caproate of 2a,l7adimethyldihydrotestosterone.

Example XXVI Following the method of Example XXI, 1 g. of 2a,17adiethyldihydrotestosterone was treated with 2 g. of propionic anhydride to produce the 17-propionate of 2a,l7adiethyl-dihydrotestosterone.

Example XX VII A mixture of l g. of 2a,17a-dimethyl-dihydrotestosterone, 50 cc. of acetic acid, 10 cc. of acetic anhydride and 1 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate was kept overnight at room temperature, poured into water, heated for half an hour on the steam bath, cooled and the precipitate was collected; it was then washed with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and water, dried and recrystallized from methylene chloride-methanol, thus yielding the 17- acetate of 2a,l7a-dimethyl-dihydrotestosterone.

Example XXVIII A solution of 1 g. of 2a,17a-dimethyl-dihydrotestosterone in 50 cc. of benzene was treated with 2 g. of

caproic anhydride and 500 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate and kept at room temperature for 3 days; after pouring into water the benzene layer was separated, washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and water and the solvent was evaporated. Recrystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane afforded the caproate of 2a,17ot-dimethyldihydrotestosterone, identical with that obtained in Example XXV.

Example XXIX In accordance with the method of Example XI, the esters produced in Examples XXI through XXVI were treated with sodum borohydride to produce the corresponding C-17-rnonoesters of the respective 2a.,17oc-dialkyl-androstane-3a,17,8-diols and 2a,l7a-dialkyl-andros tane-3[3,17,B-diols, and of the corresponding A -cornpounds.

Upon further esterification with acetic anhydride as described in Example VIII there were produced the diesters of the respective 2a,17a-dialkyl-androstane-3,17B- diols and 2a,17a-dialkyl-A -androstene-3,17B-diols. Thus there were produced the 3-acetate-l7-forrnate of 20:,17adimethyl-androstane-3,17B-diol, of 2a,17a-dimethyl-A androstene-3,17,3-diol and of 2a-methyl-17a-ethyl-androstane-3,17/3-diol; the diacetate of 2a,17oc-dimethyl-androstane-3,17,8-diol and of 2a,l7a-dimethyl-A -androstene-3, 17 6-diol; the 3-acetate-17-cyclopentylpropionate of 20a, l7a-dimethyl-androstane-3,17B-diol; the 3-acetate-17-caproate of 2a,l7wdimethyl-androstane-3,17fi-diol and of 2st,- 1'7ot-dimethyl-A anclrostene-3,17fl-diol; and the 3-acetatel7-propionate of 21x,17a-diethyl-androstane-3,17,8-di-ol.

By substituting the acetic acid anhydride by propionic acid anhydride or benzoic acid anhydride there were produced the above diesters having the propionoxy or benzoyl-oxy moiety at C-3 instead of the acctoxy moiety.

Example XXX A solution of 10 g. of 19-nor-testosterone in 500 cc. of thiophene free benzene was mixed under nitrogen with 10 cc. of ethyl formate, followed by the addition in small portions of 3 g. of sodium hydride. The mixture was stirred for hours and the resulting mixture of salts was collected by filtration, washed several times with benzene and dried. This mixture was added little by little to a stirred dilute hydrochloric acid solution which caused the formation of a precipitate. The stirring was continued for 30 minutes and the precipitate was collected, Washed with distilled water and dried in vacuo. There was thus obtained 2-hydroxymethylene-19-nor-testosterone which was used for the next stage without further purification.

The 2-hydroxymethylene-l9-nor testosterone was added to a suspension of 700 mg. of sodium hydride in 200 cc. of benzene, mixed with 40 cc. of methyl iodide and the mixture was refluxed under an atmosphere of nitrogen. After 24 hours an additional 40 cc. of methyl iodide was added followed by another 40 cc. after 24 hours further, and the refluxing was continued for still 24 hours more. The cooled mixture was washed with 1% sodium hydroxide solution and the organic layer was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane yielded 2-methyl-2-aldehydo-l9-nor- A -androsten-17,8-01-3-one.

This 2-methyl-2-aldehydo compound was dissolved in benzene and transferred to a column with 800 g. of activated alumina. After 24 hours the column was eluted with ethyl acetate and the eluates crystallized from acetonehexane to produce Zea-methyl-19-nor-testosterone.

By essentially analogous methods, but using ethyl iodide instead of methyl iodide, there was prepared 2a-ethyl-19- nor-testosterone; there were also obtained, from the corresponding 17u-alkyl derivatives of 19-nor-testosterone, 2a,17a-dimethyl-19-nor-tetrosterone, 2oc-methy1-17a-ethyl- 19-nor-testosterone, 2a-ethyl-17u-nrethyl-19-nor-testosterone and 2a,17a-diethyl-19-nor-testosterone respectively.

12 Example XXXI A solution of 1 g. of 2oc-methy1-19-nor-testosterone, obtained in accordance with the previous example, in a mixture of 10 cc. of dioxane and 10 cc. of absolute ether was added dropwise, under continuous stirring to a blue solution of 250 mg. of lithium metal in liquid ammonia. When the addition of the steroid was complete the solution had decolorized and then a small amount of lithium was added until the blue color persisted. 1.5 g. of solid ammonium chloride was added, the ammonia was allowed to evaporate, the residue was treated with water and chloroform and the organic layer was washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, sodium carbonate solution and water. The solvent was removed by distillation and the residue was dissolved in a mixture benzene-hexane and chromatographed in a column of neutral washed alumina. There was thus obtained 2a-methyl-l9-nor-androstan- 17fl-ol-3-one in pure form.

Similarly, the double bond of the other 19-nor testosterones obtained in accordance with the previous example was reduced to produce: 2rx-ethyl-19-nor-androstan- 17 fi-ol-3-one, 2a,17u-dimethyl-l9-nor-androstan-175-01-3- one, 2a-ethyl-17a-methyl-19-nor-androstan-17B-ol-3 one and 2a, 1 7oc-diethyl- 1 9-nor-androstanl7 18-01-3-0ne.

Example XXXII A solution of 1 g. of 2a-methyl-l9-nor-androstan-17/3- ol-3-one in 50 cc. of methanol was mixed with a solution of 200 mg. of sodium borohydride in 5 cc. of water and the mixture was kept standing for 16 hours. After pouring into ice-cold sodium chloride solution the excess of hydride was decomposed by the addition of a few drops of acetic acid. The precipitate was filtered, dried and dissolved in a mixture hexane-benzene. This solution was chromatographed in a column of neutral washed alumina, thus producing the 30: and 3B isomers of 2a-methyl- 19-nor-androstane-3,17/3-diol where the 3 3 isomer predominated.

Example XXXIII In accordance with the method of the preceding example, Za-methyl-19-nor-testosterone, 2OL-6tl1yl-19-110I- testosterone, 2a,l7ot-dimethyl 19 nor testosterone, 20crnethyl-l7a-ethyl-19-nor-testosterone, 2oc-6thY -17oc-m6thyl-19-nor-testosterone and 2a,17a-diethyl-19-nor-testosterone were transformed into the 30: and 3fi-isomers of Za-methyl-19-nor-A -androstene-3,175-diol, 20c ethyl 19- norA -androstene-3,17p-diol, 2a,17a-dirnethyl-19-nor-A androstene 35,175 diol, Zea-methyl-17a-ethyl-19-nor-A androstene 3,8,175 diol, Zea-ethyl-l7a-methyl-l9-nor-A androstene 3,1713 diol, and 2a,17u-diethyl-19-nor-A androstene-3,17/3-diol.

Example XXXIV By applying the method of Example XXXII to 20:- ethyl-19-nor-androstan-17,8-o1-3-one, 2a,17a-dimethyl-19- nor-androstan-17 8-ol-3-one, 2a-ethyl-17a-methyl-19-norandrostan-17/i-ol-3-one, and 2a,17a-diethyl-19-nor-androstan-17/3-ol-3-one (cf. Example XXXI), there were produced the 30: and 3B isomers of 2a-ethy1-19-nor-andr0 stane 3,17,B diol, 2a,17a-dimethyl-19-nor-androstane-3, 17,8-diol, '2a-ethyl-l7a-methyl-19-nor androstane 3,175- diol and 2a,17oc-diethyl-19-nor-androstane-3,17fi-di0l.

Example XXX V By substituting in the method of Example I the 20:,17udimethyl-testosterone by 2oc-methyl-tcstosterone, disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 632,016, filed January 2, 1957, there were obtained the 30c and 3,8 isomers of 2a-methyl-A -androstene-3,17p-diol.

Similarly 2 x-ethyl-testostcrone, 2u-propyl-testosterone and 2a-benzyl-testosterone (disclosed in our aforesaid copending application) gave the corresponding 30: and 35 isomers of 2u-ethyl-A -androstene-3,17,8-diol, 2ot-propyl- 13 A -androstene-3,17B-diol and 2ee-benzyl-A -androstene-3, 17fi-diol by the above described procedure.

Example XXXVI By substituting the acetate of the 2ee-alkyl testosterones described in the preceding example and following the method of Example XI, there were obtained the 3m and 3B isomers of the 17-acetates of 2a-methyl-A -androstene- 3,17,6-di0l, 2a-ethyl-M-androstene-3,17fi-diol and of 2apropy1-A -androstene-3,17/3-diol.

Similarly 2a-benzyl-testosterone acetate afiorded 2abenzy1-A -androstene-3B,17B-diol-17-acetate and Zoe-benzyl-A -androstene-3a,l7fl-diol-17-acetate.

Other esters such as the propionate, cyclopentylpropionate, phenylpropionate and benzoate, disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 632,016 gave the corresponding esters of the 2a-alkyl-A -androstene-3,176- diols and of the 2a-benzyl-A -androstene-3,17,8-dio1s.

Upon further esterification with carboxylic acid anhydrides of less than 12 carbon atoms as described in EX- ample XXIX, there were produced the diesters of the respective 2a-alkyl-A -androstene-3,17B-diol-17 acylates and of 2oc-benzyl-A -androstene-3,l7 8-diol-l7-acylates.

We claim:

1. 2u,l7a-di-lower alkyl-l9-nor-androstane-3,17 8 diol.

2. 2a,17a-dimethyl-19-nor-androstane-3,17 3-diol.

3. The I i-hydrocarbon carboxylic acid esters of less than 12 carbon atoms of 20,17oc-di-1OW61 alky1-19-norandrostane-3,17/3-dio1.

4. 2-methy1-A -androsten-l7fl-ol-3-one.

14 5. The hydrocarbon carboxylic acid esters of less than 12 carbon atoms of Z-methyl-N-androsten-l7fi-ol-3-one. 6. 2-methyl-17a-lower alkyl-A -androsten-l7p-ol-3-one. 7. The hydrocarbon carboxylic acid esters of less than 5 12 carbon atoms of 2-methyl-l7ee-lower alkyl-A -andro- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1958 Colton 260-3975 OTHER REFERENCES threne, 3rd ed., 1949, pages 375 and 377 relied on.

Hartman: J.A.C.S. 77, pp. 5151-54 (1955).

Hogg et al.: J.A.C.S. 77, pp. 6401-2 (1955).

Ruzicka et al.: Chem. Abs. 41, col. 5540d (1947). Ruzicka et al.: Helv. Chim. Acta. 30, pp. 867-78 Sondheimer et al.: Chem. Abs. 48, col. 699h (1954).

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner.

30 L. H. GASTON, MORRIS LIEBMAN, Examiners. 

1. 2A,17A-DI-LOWER ALKYL-19-NOR-ANDROSTANE-3,17B-DIOL.
 4. 2-METHYL-$1-ANDROSTEN-17B-OL-3-ONE. 